So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
On a knife edge razor day
If you listen long enough they've got nothing to say
It's a time warp place don't change
The rhythm of the night, the beating rain
You move fast to get off of that merry-go-round
There's one gun, probably more
And the others are pointing at our backdoor
At the best hotel of all
Put my name on the wall, put my bed on the floor
You get much less well it seems like more
Heart's still sore
Word crimes
Bitter lies
Bitter crimes
Government Lies
If you listen long enough they've got nothing to say
It's a time warp place don't change
The rhythm of the night, the beating rain
You move fast to get off of that merry-go-round
There's one gun, probably more
And the others are pointing at our backdoor
At the best hotel of all
Put my name on the wall, put my bed on the floor
You get much less well it seems like more
Heart's still sore
Word crimes
Bitter lies
Bitter crimes
Government Lies
Lyrics submitted by Chris_Gough
Knife's Edge Lyrics as written by Rob Zombie Scott Humphrey
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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Agreed! Knife's Edge-one of the Oils' better guitar freakouts. Peter Garrett is enraged in this song! He rages "It's a knife edge razor day!/If you listen long enough/They've got nothing to say!"-One of the angriest rock songs I've ever come across. Midnight Oil will never be forgotten! Australia Forever!